Wicked director Jon M Chu defends Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s friendship: ‘Shame on you’
Cynthia Erivo (L) and Ariana Grande (R) have been effusive in their praise of each other. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
Cynthia Erivo (L) and Ariana Grande (R) have been effusive in their praise of each other. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
Wicked director Jon M Chu has defended Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s friendship as the pair face public scrutiny for their emotional interactions with each other.
Amidst rumours that Wicked protagonists Erivo and Grande are in a “semi-binary” relationship – which they are not – and online haters calling the pair “creepy” for their affectionate interviews, Chu as spoke out in defence of the stars.
On Monday (1 December), the Wicked: For Good director responded to criticism of the duo at the an American Cinematheque For Good screening and Q&A.
“For us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that vulnerability and wounds with the world, knowing people are going to come out with their knives, shame on people who put that down,” he said in a clip recorded by a Wicked fan.
“These girls are giving us everything; it is why people around the world are drawn to it. It’s why they love it, and they’re sharing a real friendship that happened on set that I got to be a part of, and we should honor that with everything that we have.”
‘Cyn and Ari have been a light in this endless darkness’
Comments under the clip praise Chu for defending the pair. “Hearing this in person you could tell his heart was in this. He loves these girls so much,” one fan commented.
jon m. chu addresses the hate surrounding ariana and cynthia’s friendship:
— Ariana Grande Today (@ArianaToday) December 2, 2025
“for us to be at a time when you can have these two amazing women emerge from their shells to share love and friendship and the importance of that, unabashedly, no cynicism; to be able to share that… pic.twitter.com/NPJIzJWTwD
Why do Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo stay acting so weird with each other? Just downright creepy and satanic. pic.twitter.com/mXXa6vXQYV
— 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓲 𝓥𝓸𝓵𝓽 (@nickivolt) November 16, 2025
Another wrote: “I love how genuine the whole team is! Thank you Jon!”
Someone else commented: “People are so MISERABLE nowadays and it’s so heartbreaking. Everything is a new critique, a new way to put down people who show real vulnerability and kindness. It’s exhausting. Cyn and Ari have been a light in this endless darkness.”
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